Prom: Halifax West 2013

Prom.
Growing up, moving on, becoming an adult. Blah blah blah...

When Jess graduated from Halifax West High School in June of 2013, I had already long assured Alex I wouldn't miss it for the world. It was threatening to rain, but that didn't deter the busloads of high-schoolers from gathering at the Public Gardens for photo ops, or me from showing up, camera gear in hand, to take it all in.

The couple of the day was absolutely radiant, dressed to the nines. Jess's dress was perfect for her...

 

...and the boy cleaned up pretty nicely too.

There was certainly no shortage of people who wanted in on the camera love.

And no shortage of camera love for everyone!

These are my favorites, mostly because of the sheer spontaneity, but I admit, partially because of the absolutely stunning dresses!

Congratulations to the entire class of 2013, and especially to Jess, who goes on to study nursing at Dalhousie University in the fall. I look forward to coming back this way with Alex as a graduate of 2015.

Talk Derby To Me

The photographer in me loves to see new things. New places, new people, doing new activities. My favorite thing to shoot is people in their element, giving me a little piece of what makes them them. The more unique, the better. So when a friend suggested we take in a roller derby competition and see what it was all about, I said, "Yup," and loaded up my camera.

Comraderie, individuality, and girl-time.

Maybe next time, it won't be the sidelines where you find me.

Unplugged

Sunday the 16th of June was barbeque day. A morning and afternoon at Queensland Beach, then a backyard barbeque to die for. Enjoying the company, completely unplugged.

Well, except for this from the beach to remember the day:

Lizard Lake

By mid-June, 2013, summer was in full swing. Weekends were spent barbequing, road tripping, hanging out in the yard, or relaxing at the beach. The 15th of June was no different: the entire day found me at the home of a friend, cooking up hamburgers and testing the waters of Lizard Lake.

There were some gorgeous lupins growing right alongside the tiny slice of beach we inhabited. They started out beautiful and as the sun started to set, they were positively radiant!

I couldn't get enough of the light!

Then, when I looked up from my camera, this was happening...

What is "this" you ask? It's definitely the perfect end to a relaxing and amazing day with friends.

Jeddore

June 2 found me on another road trip, this time in an attempt to beach comb at Martinique. It was a glorious sunny summer day... at least in the city. As we approached the ocean, however, it was plain to see there would be no soaking up the rays on the shores of the Atlantic that afternoon.

So much for that idea.
Since we're there, though, there was some sun a few miles back... what is there to see in Jeddore, Nova Scotia? Well, there's this:

and there's ridiculously yummy food here: The Lunch Room. We had some amazing homemade lunch, and invested in some coconut cream pie for later before moving on to this: a beautiful family 'cottage' that belongs to a friend of a friend and is currently undergoing renovations and therefore uninhabited.

It also boasts a yard full of photographic win.

Eventually, I'd had my fill (and we had started to worry that the neighbours might wonder what we were doing there) so we got back in the car and headed back toward the city to the one beach where we knew the sun would still be shining: Kearney Lake. I got in my swim and then we laid on the grass, thankful for take-out pie and admiring the crystal blue sky that meant summer was finally here.

Mahone Bay Road Trip

Nova Scotia is full of quaint fishing towns, all complete with lobster traps and tourist traps alike. Each also has it's own unique je ne sais quoi, however, and in none is that feeling more prominent than Mahone Bay.

Mahone Bay's most famous attraction is its three churches, which you've already seen here. Pretty sure they haven't changed in generations, but somehow I couldn't prevent myself from capturing another shot.

or two.

Aside from the churches, the town has a colorful flavour that makes it almost irresistible to get out of your car and walk through.

I couldn't resist an ice cream cone from Dad's Ice Cream Parlour and Mom's Buy & Sell: the colorful shop that put literal meaning to 'Mom and Pop Store'.

 Ice cream in hand, I headed out of town and back to the city, but not without a little side trip to Chester, where I found myself in the midst of a bike show and traipsing across someone's yard for the best view of these exquisitely placed adirondack chairs.

I arrived back in Halifax with plenty of sunshine left in the afternoon and decided to spend it soaking up the rays on the Halifax Common. My favorite spot to sit is by the skate park and on this warm, sunny Saturday, I wasn't the only one enjoying the afternoon.

There's nothing more relaxing than that first hot weekend day, when you know that, even here, winter has finally gone, and the summer you've been waiting for has finally arrived.